KUALA LUMPUR – The Education Ministry will not be taking sides in the alleged bullying of a Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) Form 4 student, but it will be open to meeting the parents who took their grouses to social media.
Deputy minister Lim Hui Ying reiterated the ministry’s zero bullying policy but said the case is now being investigated by police.
“We do not compromise on bullying cases, we will not take sides in this case. I want to stress that this case is under investigation, and I understand the feelings of the victim’s parents,” she was quoted as saying by Malay Mail Online at an event in Penang.
Meanwhile, MCKK’s parent-teacher association (PTA) lodged a police report at the Travers station here today in response to the backlash on social media over the bullying case.
Lawyer Hasshahari Johari Mawi was quoted as saying by FMT that the report is meant to protect other students, parents, and teachers from online harassment and defamatory statements.
Last weekend, Scoop reported that the PTA lashed out at the family of a Form 4 bullying victim for “inconsiderately and selfishly” taking the issue to social media.
In a statement, the PTA said that by posting details of the case online, the family had smeared the good name of MCKK, a prestigious fully residential school in Perak.
The PTA also said that it “respects” the school’s decision to not “bow down to threats” allegedly issued by a group of Form 4 students’ parents who said they would post about the case online if MCKK refuses to reconsider its supposed lack of disciplinary action against those involved.
The statement comes amid an online outcry after an individual, believed to be the victim’s sister, vented her frustrations on Instagram, claiming that the perpetrators had only received “light punishment” and questioned if the families had ties with VIPs. – November 8, 2023